Cromwell New World readies for greenway-driveway conversion

A section of a public walkway has been commandeered by a Cromwell supermarket, which has plans to up-size its footprint with the extra room.

However Foodstuffs, now owner of the former reserve land on Waenga Drive, will provide a small sweetener for residents in the process, sprucing up the chunk of public space it has left behind.

The supermarket giant, which owns the town's New World, was given approval by the Central Otago District Council to buy the slice of reserve land in 2021.

The supermarket argued its site on the corner of Murray Terrace and Waenga Drive was increasingly constrained and more space was needed to accommodate growth to meet demand.

In a statement today, the council says the section of land has now been subdivided off.

Part of the deal was that the company develop the remaining reserve area and mitigate issues to neighbours, and construction work to achieve that kicks off this week.

The council says phase one will involve removing residents’ fencing and some small trees to install new acoustic fencing.

The council is also preparing local motorists for some upcoming roading disruptions around the site.

"Part of Waenga Drive will be temporarily closed late September to mid-December to allow services to be relocated, landscaping to be carried out within the reserve, installation of a pedestrian crossing and the New World car park expansion," the statement says.

Foodstuffs has flagged it will renovate and push out its supermarket building to the west, where the existing entrance is from Waenga Drive. A new entrance from the road to access the supermarket carpark will be created on the former reserve land.

The sale of the land, which has reduced the width of the greenway by more than half, was publicly consulted on.

Fourteen submissions were received - eight opposing Foodstuff's request.

Main image (Supplied): An artist’s impression of the new look public greenway adjacent to the New World supermarket in Cromwell.